Lady Cougars split action prior to spring break

Tue, 03/13/2018 - 10:59am

The Newton County Lady Cougars had an up-and-down week on the softball diamond.

The Lady Cougars blanked Union 10-0 to open the week and then opened Division 5-4A play with a pair of 14-0 wins over Quitman. On Friday, the Lady Cougars ventured to the Mississippi Gulf Coast where they lost 8-4 to Baker and 3-0 to Harrison Central.

Newton County, now 7-4, will return to action on Friday when they take on D’Iberville at 5 p.m. at the Enterprise Tournament. then on Saturday, they will face West Harrison at 12:20 p.m. and Harrison Central at 3:40 p.m. at Enterprise.

County 10, Union 0

The Lady Cougars took their second shutout win against Union with a one-hitter on Monday.

Newton County scored four runs in the second and fifth innings and one in the third and fourth innings.

Newton County had 11 hits in the contest and a big game from Jada McDougle, who was 2-for-2 with a double and grand slam home run. Landree Amis and Lizzy Hollingsworth were each 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Katelyn Gipson was 2-for-3 while Lorren Ivey had a triple and scored two runs.

Shelby Anderson was dominating on the mound as she pitched five shutout innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four.

County 14, Quitman 0

The Lady Cougars used a pair of six-run innings to take a run-rule victory over the Lady Panthers on Tuesday to begin Division 5-4A play.

Newton County scored two runs in the first inning and the score stayed that way until the Lady Cougars broke through in the fourth and fifth innings with six runs in each frame.

Newton County had 15 hits in the contest as Jada McDougle and Jessi Thaggard were each 3-for-3. McDougle had a triple, scored three runs and drove in two runs while Thaggard scored twice and drove in three runs. Shelby Anderson was 2-for-3 with two triples, three RBIs and three runs scored while Brittany Thomas was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs. Lizzy Hollingsworth was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Loren Ivey was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Thomas was dominating on the mound, pitching five shutout innings as she gave up two hits and struck out seven.

County 14, Quitman 0

The Lady Cougars scored 11 runs in the third inning and run-ruled the Lady Panthers for the second time in three days.

County scored one in the first and two in the second before exploding for 11 in the third.

Newton County had nine hits in the contest but only one multiple hitter as Jada McDougle was 2-for-2 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs. Lorren Ivey had a double, scored twice and drove in three runs. Landree Amis scored twice and drove in two runs while Katelyn Gipson drove in two runs. Brittany Thomas also walked twice and scored twice.

Brittany Thomas got the start on the mound and pitched 3 1/3 innings and gave up two hits and two walks while striking out two. Mackenzie Rigdon pitched the final 2/3 of an inning.

Baker 8, County 4

Baker scored five runs in the top of the fifth and took a four-run win over Newton County on Saturday at West Harrison.

Baker scored three in the second but County scored two in the bottom of the second and one in the third to tie the game at 3-3. After a scoreless fourth, Baker scored five in the fifth to take the win.

Newton County had just three hits in the contest, all singles by Brittany Thomas, Landree Amis and Katelyn Gipson. Amis, Lizzy Hollingsworth and Lorren Ivey each scored runs while Jessi Thaggard had County’s only RBI.

Thomas pitched all seven innings for County, giving up eight runs on eight hits and five walks.

Harrison Central 3, County 0

Newton County managed only one hit in a shutout loss to Harrison Central on Saturday.

Harrison scored one run in the third and two in the fifth on four hits.

Shelby Anderson had County’s only hit and started on the mound for the Lady Cougars. She pitched six innings, giving up three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks.